France on drought alert after hottest spring since 1900

France on drought alert after hottest spring since 1900

France is now on heatwave alert after the hottest spring since 1900 has left water tables down and farmers struggling to feed their livestock. The Health Ministry has put into effect level one of an anti-drought plan that was drawn up after 15,000 people died in the

Hundreds of endangered Saiga antelopes die in Kazakhstan

Hundreds of endangered Saiga antelopes die in Kazakhstan

More than 440 endangered Saiga antelopes were found dead in western Kazakhstan last week, suspected victims of the same epidemic that killed 12,000 animals last year, officials said on Monday.The horned animals, distinguished for the flexible snout-like noses,

Another lead poisoning in China

Another lead poisoning in China

Authorities in eastern China have detained 74 people and suspended work at hundreds of factories after a new lead poisoning scare once again highlighted the dark side of the country’s economic boom.The announcement by the Zhejiang government on Monday follows a

E. coli claims first victim outside Germany

E. coli claims first victim outside Germany

The outbreak of a highly virulent strain of the E. coli bacteria found on imported cucumbers in Germany has now killed at least 16 people. Authorities are warning against eating raw vegetables.A deadly strain of the Enterohemorrhagic E.coli bacteria has claimed its

Kilauea crater lava lake grows

Kilauea crater lava lake grows

Lava is only present within Pu`u `O`o crater and the vent inset within the east wall and floor of the summit's Halema`uma`u Crater. The summit lava lake level falls and rises every 15 minutes. In the east rift zone, vents within Pu`u `O`o crater fed a lava lake…

Indonesia’s Dieng volcano spews poisonous gas

Indonesia’s Dieng volcano spews poisonous gas

Authorities have raised the alert level for Mount Dieng in Central Java and have ordered the evacuation of residents living near the area after the volcano began spewing poisonous gas. Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, a spokesman for the National Disaster Mitigation Agency

752 metric tons of fish found floating in Taal Lake

752 metric tons of fish found floating in Taal Lake

A sudden change in water temperature of a lake surrounding a restive volcano in the Philippines has killed more than 700 metric tons of fish, a government agency said. The bureau said 752 metric tons of milkfish and tilapia have been found floating in Taal Lake,

African land grab could lead to future water conflicts

African land grab could lead to future water conflicts

China, India and Saudi Arabia have lately leased vast tracts of land in sub-Saharan Africa at knockdown prices. Their primary aim is to grow food abroad using the water that African countries don’t have the infrastructure to exploit. Doing so is cheaper and easier than

Prozac killing E. coli in the Great Lakes

Prozac killing E. coli in the Great Lakes

Scientists in Erie, Pennsylvania, have found that minute concentrations of fluoxetine, the active ingredient in Prozac, are killing off microbial populations in the Great Lakes.Traces of antidepressants such as Prozac have been found in both drinking and recreational